{"id":79142,"date":"2014-11-17T17:22:17","date_gmt":"2014-11-17T17:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=79142"},"modified":"2014-12-02T14:50:30","modified_gmt":"2014-12-02T14:50:30","slug":"esther-conwell-pioneering-professor-of-chemistry-dies-at-92","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/esther-conwell-pioneering-professor-of-chemistry-dies-at-92\/","title":{"rendered":"Esther Conwell, pioneering professor of chemistry, dies at 92"},"content":{"rendered":"

Conwell Received the\u00a0National Medal of Science in 2010<\/em><\/p>\n

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Esther Conwell, professor of chemistry at the URochester, receiving a National Medal of Science from President Obama in November 2010. (Photo courtesy of Ryan K. Morris Photography\/National Science & Technology Medals Foundation.)>>Additional photos and video<\/a> <\/p>\n

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Esther M. Conwell, research professor of chemistry at the URochester and recipient of the\u00a0National Medal of Science, died in a motor vehicle accident Sunday at the age of 92.<\/p>\n

A pioneer in the field of semiconductor research that ultimately revolutionized modern computers, Conwell was recognized as one of Discover<\/em> magazine\u2019s Top 50 Women of Science in 2002 and awarded the National Medal of Science by President Barack Obama in 2010. Her expertise earned her the rare honor of memberships in both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering.<\/p>\n

\u201cEsther Conwell\u2019s death is a tragic loss for the world of science, as well as for the University community,\u201d said University President Joel Seligman. \u201cProfessor Conwell\u2019s many scientific contributions and her pioneering role as a leading woman in science made her a source of pride for our entire Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ community. She was a deeply inspiring scientist for young women pursuing careers in science. Our thoughts are with her family and colleagues during this very difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to her own outstanding research contributions, Esther, over her career, mentored many postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students,\u201d said Todd Krauss, chair of the Department of Chemistry. \u201cMore broadly, she has served as an inspiration to women scientists around the globe. She will be greatly missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an interview with Rochester Review<\/em> in 2003, Conwell said “My life is the story of women scientists making a place in the world. Although it’s not nirvana yet, women have come a long way in my working lifetime, and it gives me hope.”<\/p>\n

Conwell\u2019s academic and professional careers began at a time when women were rarely seen in science classrooms and laboratories. Early in her career, Conwell was hired as an assistant engineer at Western Electric. Shortly afterwards, she was notified that no such classification existed\u2014for women. So she became instead an engineer\u2019s assistant, a reassignment that significantly lowered her pay.<\/p>\n